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Tortoise beats rabbit in China ski contest

A tortoise has beaten a rabbit in a skiing competition held for pets and their owners in northern China.

Cats and dogs faced off against a menagerie including a rooster and a yellow duck in a race to the finish line on snowy slopes in China's Hebei province, the state-run China News Service said on Tuesday.

The 40 human competitors were allowed to place their animals on skis or sleds, or could guide the pet with a lead while skiing, the report said.

Off piste: The ski bunny proved no match for the tortoise. Photo: AFP

In an unexpected outcome akin to an ancient Greek fable, a tortoise beat a rabbit, with the shelled reptile claiming third place overall, the report said.

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"Because the rabbit loved jumping and didn't follow its owner's commands, it was overtaken by the tortoise," it said.

The tortoise - which would usually be expected to hibernate during the winter - apparently hitched a ride on its owner's ski equipment, the report said.

Pictures showed a yellow duck taking to the slopes in a fetching red necktie, attracting curious stares from two dogs, before being held aloft by its owner, who clutched a red certificate of honour after it waddled over the finish line.

Skiing has become more popular in China in recent years, with a range of slopes opening in the country's cold north, and it is bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics.